A MAJOR injection of cash is to be made in Middlesbrough’s Gresham area to carry out a range of improvements.

More than £750,000 will be spent.

Five years ago it was announced Middlesbrough Council was planning to demolish 1,500 homes in the area. That plan has been scaled back to around 750. The council says the cash investment now being made underlines its commitment to the area. Plans include:

£580,000 on road and footpath improvements over three years in 17 streets. Work has started in Parliament Road;

Mayor Ray Mallon said: “While the funding position remains challenging for the wider regeneration of Gresham we are determined to make things happen. This shows we are investing in the area, we do care about the area and we care about the quality of life of its residents.”

A top priority would always be that Gresham becomes a desirable place for people to live, work and do business, he said.

The plans have been welcomed by local councillor Ken Walker, who was a fierce critic of the original plans to demolish 1,500 homes.

Cllr Walker said: “It is fantastic news for residents and a boost for the area.

“I have been calling for improvements such as these for the past two years.”

New schemes to bring older homes in Gresham back into use are also being introduced following the decision in August to remove Phase 3 from the clearance programme.

Owner occupiers in Phase 3 have been offered a £4,000 grant to invest in their properties. So far 121 applications have been received.

A new Homeswap scheme will enable remaining owners of properties in Phase 1 to buy a similar property in the Phase 3 area.

Owners will have the opportunity to access a non-repayable loan to improve the Homeswap property.

The council is also working with the Homes and Communities Agency and Registered Social Landlords to develop projects that can secure funding to bring empty homes in Phase 3 back into use.

The HCA has £100m earmarked nationally for tackling empty homes.

The council is applying for £8m through the Local Enterprise Partnership to continue buying homes to be demolished in Gresham.